040_Praise_You

040_Praise_You

Employees usually expect some praise from their boss for a job well done. Nichibei student Hitoshi asks Instructor Robin Colomb for some advice on how to praise employees.

Kevin:

It’s time once again for Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. Each week we answer a question from a Nichibei student. This week we are talking with Nichibei student Hitoshi. Hi Hitoshi, thanks for joining us.

Hitoshi:

Hi Kevin. Happy to be here.

Kevin:

And also with us here today is Nichibei instructor Robin Colomb. How are you today Robin?

Robin Colomb:

Pretty good, thanks.

Kevin:

Hitoshi, where are you working now?

Hitoshi:

I’m the manager of the sales team for our company’s Seattle office.

Kevin:

That sounds great. Seattle is a great city. Are you enjoying living there?

Hitoshi:

Seattle is fine, but the job…it is a little stressful.

Kevin:

Why? I’ve heard that your company is doing very well in the United States?

Hitoshi:

Yes. Our sales are good but, you see, I am a manager to a team of American salespeople.

Robin Colomb:

Is that a problem?

Hitoshi:

Well, I have been told by my boss that I do not praise my sales team enough. They feel I don’t tell them when they have done a good job.

Robin Colomb:

How do you feel about that? Do you think that’s true?

Hitoshi:

Well, I know it’s true!

Robin Colomb:

So, Why don’t you praise them more when they’ve done a good job?

Hitoshi:

This is a little embarrassing, but the truth is I just don’t know how to properly praise an employee in English. I don’t know the proper vocabulary, phrases or intonation. I usually just say ‘good job’. So I’d really appreciate it if you could help me learn some set phrases a manager can use when he wants to praise the staff.

Kevin:

Robin? What can you offer Hitoshi for this situation?

Robin Colomb:

OK. First I want to talk about the word praise. You are correct to use the word praise in this situation rather than a softer word like ‘complement’. Praise is a general term used for expressing your approval of someone. Now, one thing you should remember about the word praise, is that it usually suggests the judgment of a superior like a boss or a teacher.

Kevin:

For example a teacher’s praise for her students or a manger’s praise for his staff.

Hitoshi:

Can I use the word praise to praise someone?

Robin Colomb:

Yes you can, as a matter of fact. Try this phrase. ‘I can’t praise you enough for your work on the XYZ project. Great job!

Hitoshi:

I don’t understand. You said ‘I can’t praise you’. Is this good?

Robin Colomb:

Oh yes! I said ‘I can’t praise you enough…’ This means that no matter how much I try, I could not successfully praise you enough for the great job you did. So actually this is a very high level praise. Use this phrase only for someone who truly has done a great job.

Hitoshi:

How about a phrase that is not so high level?

Robin Colomb:

That’s easy. Just replace the verb praise with verb thank. ‘I can’t thank you enough’… Now the phrase sounds a little softer but it still sounds very good. Why don’t you try repeating those two phrases.

Hitoshi:

I can’t praise you enough for your work on the XYZ project. Great job!
I can’t thank you enough for your work on the XYZ project. Great job!

Robin Colomb:

That sounds good.

Hitoshi:

What other phrases can you tell me?

Robin Colomb:

How about this one. ‘I really appreciate all the effort you’ve shown >on the XYZ project!’

Hitoshi:

I really apleechiate….

Robin Colomb:

Appreciate!

Hitoshi:

I really appreciate all the effort you’ve shown >on the XYZ project.

Robin Colomb:

Here is another one. ‘Your performance >on the XYZ project has been exemplary’.

Hitoshi:

Your performance on the XYZ project has been exempl…

Robin Colomb:

Exemplary. Exemplary means to be a good example, a good model for other people to follow.

Hitoshi:

Exemplary, OK,…Your performance >on the XYZ project has been exemplary.

Robin Colomb:

Good! Now, let me give you one more word you can use to praise someone. This word is impeccable.

Hitoshi:

Impeccable?

Robin Colomb:

Yes. Impeccable is used when you are talking about someone’s behavior or performance, Impeccable refers to a very high standard or quality. Clean and perfect. Now here’s a sentence. ‘>Your negotiations with XYZ corporation were impeccable!’

Hitoshi:

Your negotiations with XYZ corporation were impeccable. Thanks. That should help me out a lot.

Robin Colomb:

Good, and here is a tip for praising employees. Don’t just say it to them, you should also write it down and even put a photocopy in their employee file.

Kevin:

And if you’d like some more tips about praising employees in English, you can find some web links with the transcript of this episode. Robin, thanks a lot for your time.

Hitoshi:

Thanks a lot

Robin Colomb:

My pleasure.

Kevin:

Now let’s review some of the words and phrases for this episode.
I can’t praise you enough.<
I can’t thank you enough.
Impeccable.
Exemplary.
Praise.

END